Bundesliga Euro Bites

VIDAL’s FINAL ARRIVAL

Bayern Munich all of a sudden acts as being in desperate need for reinforcing an already world class squad - culminating in the signing of the once disgraced Arturo Vidal from Juventus for an alleged sum of £25 million. The 28-year-old Chilean midfielder was close to joining Bayern four years ago in a transfer from Bayer Leverkusen. Vidal had stated an verbal agreement was in place, but then signed with the Italian club. Bayern’s chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said back then: “Congratulations to his decision. We don´t want players like him.” However, there is a not-so-well-known mastermind behind the scenes in Munich that insisted in having Vidal back - Michael Reschke, who once brought him from Chile to Leverkusen.

FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE

While more and more German players are trying to make their fortune abroad, Kevin Kuranyi is taking the other direction. The 33-year-old former German national team striker (19 goals in 52 games) is returning to Germany after playing five years for Dynamo Moscow (50 goals in 123 games, alleged annual salary of £3.8 million). He will join TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and says he is eager to prove he is still good enough for the Bundesliga. He fell from national favour in October 2008 when the “Mannschaft” played a home game against Russia. Manager Joachim Löw surprisingly did not consider him for the squad, and after watching the first half on the terrace, Kuranyi drove home at halftime.

GERMANY’s WORLD CHAMPIONS BEATEN BY KEVIN DE BRUYNE

VfL Wolfsburg’s Belgian international Kevin de Bruyne was named Germany’s footballer of the year by a clear majority of sports journalists. His nomination was not too much of a surprise after ten goals and 21 assists during the Bundesliga season, and also being the team’s outstanding performer during the national cup competition that Wolfsburg won for the first time. However, the 24-year-old is only the fifth foreigner to win this title. Accordingly, Wolfsburg’s Dieter Hecking was named Germany´s manager of the year. De Bruyne dedicated the trophy to his friend and teammate at Wolfsburg Junior Malanda, the fellow Belgian who died in a car accident last January.

FIT AND YOU DIDN’T KNOW IT

Sidney Sam seemed in surprisingly good shape when joining the Schalke 04 squad in its last preparations. When the backup national team player was suspended back in May (details still undisclosed), the midfielder was expected to join Eintracht Frankfurt – but failed the final medical test. All of a sudden, Sam was pardoned and found his way back into the Schalke squad under its new coach Andre Breitenreiter. General manager Horst Heldt said it is because Sam, well, said he was sorry. Heldt however managed to temper the mood of the traditionally very emotional Schalke fan base by dragging in striker Franco di Santo from Werder Bremen.

MULLER NOT JOINING MANCHESTER UNITED, BUT SUFFERS PENALTY WOES

Preparations for the new season have been quite exhausting for Bayern Munich´s players lately. Last Thursday they had to play a friendly against Chinese champions Guangzhou Evergrande in 28 degrees and 94 percent humidity. Thomas Müller was the only one to miss after a goalless draw in regulation. Müller, however, did not show any disappointment and assured that his lack in concentration on the spot kick had nothing to do with Manchester United’s €100million offer. If there has been any serious thought about leaving Munich, he just put it away with a courteous Asian smile.

FISTFIGHTS IN PEACEFUL INGOLSTADT

After football turned into wrestling, the referee blew the final whistle in the 84th minute of a friendly! FC Ingolstadt, a first-timer in the Bundesliga and up until now better known for it’s ice hockey team, hosted a game against Spain’s Celta de Vigo. Ingolstadt suffered from a couple of rough fouls during the first half before Celta’s Jonatan Castro received a red card for deliberately kicking the ball into the face of opponent Almog Cohen during a break in the game. When the subsequent skirmishes in front of the Celta bench would not end, the referee decided to end the “unfriendly” game early.